Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: Brent Whitted, Paul Yachnin
Peer Reviewed

The Tempest (Folio 1, 1623)

17
The Tempest.
Did thou Alonso, vse me, and my daughter:
Thy brother was a furtherer in the Act,
2030Thou art pinch'd for't now Sebastian. Flesh, and bloud,
You, brother mine, that entertaine ambition,
Expelld remorse, and nature, whom, with Sebastian
(Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong)
Would heere haue kill'd your King: I do forgiue thee,
2035Vnnaturall though thou art: Their vnderstanding
Begins to swell, and the approching tide
Will shortly fill the reasonable shore
That now ly foule, and muddy: not one of them
That yet lookes on me, or would know me: Ariell,
2040Fetch me the Hat, and Rapier in my Cell,
I will discase me, and my selfe present
As I was sometime Millaine: quickly Spirit,
Thou shalt ere long be free.
Ariell sings, and helps to attire him.
2045Where the Bee sucks, there suck I,
In a Cowslips bell, I lie,
There I cowch when Owles doe crie,
On the Batts backe I doe flie
after Sommer merrily.
2050Merrily, merrily, shall I liue now,
Vnder the blossom that hangs on the Bow.
Pro. Why that's my dainty Ariell: I shall misse
Thee, but yet thou shalt haue freedome: so, so, so.
To the Kings ship, inuisible as thou art,
2055There shalt thou finde the Marriners asleepe
Vnder the Hatches: the Master and the Boat-swaine
Being awake, enforce them to this place;
And presently, I pre'thee.
Ar. I drinke the aire before me, and returne
2060Or ere your pulse twice beate. Exit.
Gon. All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement
Inhabits heere: some heauenly power guide vs
Out of this fearefull Country.
Pro. Behold Sir King
2065The wronged Duke of Millaine, Prospero:
For more assurance that a liuing Prince
Do's now speake to thee, I embrace thy body,
And to thee, and thy Company, I bid
A hearty welcome.
2070Alo. Where thou bee'st he or no,
Or some inchanted triflle to abuse me,
(As late I haue beene) I not know: thy Pulse
Beats as of flesh, and blood: and since I saw thee,
Th'affliction of my minde amends, with which
2075I feare a madnesse held me: this must craue
(And if this be at all) a most strange story.
Thy Dukedome I resigne, and doe entreat
Thou pardon me my wrongs: But how shold Prospero
Be liuing, and be heere?
2080Pro. First, noble Frend,
Let me embrace thine age, whose honor cannot
Be measur'd, or confin'd.
Gonz. Whether this be,
Or be not, I'le not sweare.
2085Pro. You doe yet taste
Some subtleties o'th'Isle, that will not let you
Beleeue things certaine: Wellcome, my friends all,
But you, my brace of Lords, were I so minded
I heere could plucke his Highnesse frowne vpon you
2090And iustifie you Traitors: at this time
I will tell no tales.
Seb. The Diuell speakes in him:
Pro. No:

For you (most wicked Sir) whom to call brother
2095Would euen infect my mouth, I do forgiue
Thy rankest fault; all of them: and require
My Dukedome of thee, which, perforce I know
Thou must restore.
Alo. If thou beest Prospero
2100Giue vs particulars of thy preseruation,
How thou hast met vs heere, whom three howres since
Were wrackt vpon this shore? where I haue lost
(How sharp the point of this remembrance is)
My deere sonne Ferdinand.
2105Pro. I am woe for't, Sir.
Alo. Irreparable is the losse, and patience
Saies, it is past her cure.
Pro. I rather thinke
You haue not sought her helpe, of whose soft grace
2110For the like losse, I haue her soueraigne aid,
And rest my selfe content.
Alo. You the like losse?
Pro. As great to me, as late, and supportable
To make the deere losse, haue I meanes much weaker
2115Then you may call to comfort you; for I
Haue lost my daughter.
Alo. A daughter?
Oh heauens, that they were liuing both in Nalpes
The King and Queene there, that they were, I wish
2120My selfe were mudded in that oo-zie bed
Where my sonne lies: when did you lose your daughter?
Pro. In this last Tempest. I perceiue these Lords
At this encounter doe so much admire,
That they deuoure their reason, and scarce thinke
2125Their eies doe offices of Truth: Their words
Are naturall breath: but howsoeu'r you haue
Beene iustled from your sences, know for certain
That I am Prospero, and that very Duke
Which was thrust forth of Millaine, who most strangely
2130Vpon this shore (where you were wrackt) was landed
To be the Lord on't: No more yet of this,
For 'tis a Chronicle of day by day,
Not a relation for a break-fast, nor
Befitting this first meeting: Welcome, Sir;
2135This Cell's my Court: heere haue I few attendants,
And Subiects none abroad: pray you looke in:
My Dukedome since you haue giuen me againe,
I will requite you with as good a thing,
At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye
2140As much, as me my Dukedome.
Here Prospero discouers Ferdinand and Miranda, play-
ing at Chesse.
Mir. Sweet Lord, you play me false.
Fer. No my dearest loue,
2145I would not for the world.
Mir. Yes, for a score of Kingdomes, you should (wrangle,
And I would call it faire play.
Alo. If this proue
A vision of the Island, one deere Sonne
2150Shall I twice loose.
Seb. A most high miracle.
Fer. Though the Seas threaten they are mercifull,
I haue curs'd them without cause.
Alo. Now all the blessings
2155Of a glad father, compasse thee about:
Arise, and say how thou cam'st heere.
Mir. O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there heere?
How beauteous mankinde is? O braue new world

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